BUCYRUS — Christian Edwards of Crestline appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday to plead to amended criminal charges.
Edwards, 18, was originally charged with one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor, a second-degree felony punishable with up to eight years in prison and two counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, both fourth-degree felonies and each punishable with up to 18 months in prison.
Edwards had romantic relationships with two minors, one age 17 and one age 16. After the relationships ended, Edwards posted sexually explicit photos of the girls that they had either sent to him voluntarily or had allowed him to take on social media.
In a plea negotiation between the state and the defense, the charges were amended to one count of telephone communication harassment, a fifth-degree felony punishable with up to one year in prison.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold had plenty to say to Edwards.
“The state is trying not to label you a sex offender for the next 50 years of your life. This is fair under the particular circumstances,” Leuthold said. “But I want you to understand something. You’ve been a jerk here. Taking private photos and posting them on social media is a dirtbag thing to do. It makes you look like a scumbag.
“To disrespect and embarrass women with private photos is awful. You should thank your lucky stars you aren’t labeled as a sex offender for the rest of your life.” Leuthold continued. “You’re 18 years old and you could go to prison. You’re an adult now. You don’t date kids. Albeit the age difference wasn’t much, they are juveniles. You have to start acting like an adult.”
Leuthold sentenced Edwards to five years of community control. If he fails to complete community control successfully, he faces one year in prison. Leuthold ordered probation officer Chris Heydinger to supervise Edwards.
“I want his phone monitored. There had better not be any explicit photos given or received on his phone,” Leuthold said. “If he does, arrest him on the spot. I personally want to see him every 30 days.”
Leuthold ordered Edwards to never speak to the victims again.
“It’s time to grow up. Stop acting like a baby and a scumbag, disrespecting women,” Leuthold said. “This is not juvenile court. This is grown up justice. Let me tell, you would not do well in prison.”
In other court action, Douglas Swart, 57, of Bucyrus appeared to answer to allegations he violated the terms and conditions of his community control.
Swart was originally placed on community control in 2015 after he pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of drugs, each fifth-degree felonies and each punishable with up to one year in prison.
In October 2016, Swart violated his community control for a second time and was sentenced to two years in prison. In June 2017, Swart was paroled from prison and placed under the supervision of the adult parole authority.
According to probation officer Eric Bohach, after Swart was transferred to his supervision he made several attempts to contact him without success. Bohach eventually issued a warrant for his arrest. According to allegations, Swart refused to take a urine test and was suspected of both marijuana and Suboxone use.
Leuthold ruled that the matter be set for a full hearing and set Swart’s bond at $50,000. Attorney Geoff Stoll was appointed to represent Swart.